U.S. Announces $169M In Emergency Assistance For Ethiopia, Kenya

Aug 04, 2017

Devex: USAID announces $169M for drought relief in Ethiopia and Kenya
“In response to the ongoing food crisis in East Africa, the U.S. Agency for International Development announced more than $169 million in funding on Thursday for humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia and Kenya. The majority of the funds — approximately $137 million — will go to Ethiopia. … These new funds will go toward scaling emergency food assistance efforts, providing specialized nutrition supplies and providing safe drinking water and health services, among other efforts. In Kenya, the funds will provide support for refugees of neighboring countries living in Kenya, as well as for Kenyans impacted by drought…” (Jerving, 8/3).

Reuters: U.S. expands food, health aid to Ethiopia, Kenya amid crisis
“…The latest funding comes after Trump pledged $639 million last month in urgent food assistance for Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen. Increased aid comes as numerous countries in the region face crisis-level food shortages due to armed conflict, prolonged drought, and economic upheaval that have also resulted in a lack of medical care, sanitation, shelter, and safety…” (Wroughton/Heavey, 8/3).

VOA News: U.S. to Give Additional $169 Million in Aid to Ethiopia, Kenya
“…USAID said nearly 8 million Ethiopians are in need of urgent humanitarian aid. Without it, the agency said ‘food insecurity could reach catastrophic levels for some families in the worst-affected areas’ and result in ‘the displacement of affected populations.’ In Kenya, USAID said some 2.6 million people are ‘acutely food-insecure’ as drought conditions continue…” (8/3).